John Fairbairn (m. Sarah MORRIS)1,2

(10 Apr 1778 - 26 May 1854)
FatherWilliam Fairbairn (Schoolmaster, Bowden; m. Margaret SCOTT)2,3,4 (circa Apr 1756 - Mar 1810)
MotherMargaret Scott2,3 (say 1757 - )

Intro

     John (marr. to Sarah Morris) inconsiderately died the year prior to civil registration in Scotland, so we have no formal proof of his being the son of William (the schoolmaster, and uncle of Sir William the engineer). However there is considerable circumstantial evidence for this link.
This "evidence" includes both the naming pattern for John's children (1st son William, 2nd daughter Margaret, although Sarah's father was a James and the 2nd son was a John), census & data placing his birth in Bowden, and his census age and age at death matching his assumed baptism in Bowden. There is also the otherwise rather coincidental happenstance that in 1871 his son George Henry and wife Jane were lodging in the same Nth Berwick household as an 83 year old Jane FAIRBAIRN, born Kelso; Jane was subsequently identified as schoolmaster William's niece.
His is the only recorded John born Bowden, and the other contemporary FAIRBAIRN family in Bowden is not known to have a son John.
In addition, Helen, John's sister, died in 1867 leaving £50 "to each of the children of her deceased brother John Fairbairn". Pity she didn't state this John was the "bookseller"! She also left money to other nieces and nephews, children of their siblings Andrew and Peter.
The clincher however (May 2013) is that two of John's sons married SMITH sisters, George Henry's certificate stating that he and Jane SMITH were 2nd cousins.
The informant for Jane's death was her sister Eliza FAIRBAIRN nee SMITH, both being the daughters of Helen/Ellen FAIRBAIRN married to Hugh Aird SMITH.
At the time of Helen/Ellen SMITH's death she was living with her sister Jane (of the Nth Berwick census above).5,4,6,7,8,9

BDMs

     John Fairbairn was born on 10 Apr 1778 Bowden, ROX, SCT.2,6,10 He was baptized on 13 May 1778 Bowden, ROX; "before congtn."2 Some sources show John as born in 1778 Selkirk, SEL, SCT.3
     John Fairbairn married Sarah Morris, daughter of James Morris, on 20 Feb 1809 St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, entry shows: 20th February 1809 John Fairbairn Bookseller Buccleugh Street and Sarah Morris daughter of the late James Morris gave up their names for proclamation of banns matrimonial.11,12
     John Fairbairn died on 26 May 1854 25 Warriston Cres, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, at age 76; entry for 27th May (in column headed date of death, which explicitly changes to date of interment a few entries below) reads: John Fairbairn, Esq, (nothing in relationship or family columns) aged 77, cod Decay.10,6,13

Census

     John Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1841 Gayfield Sq, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, SCT, with Sarah Fairbairn, as FAIRBAIRN: John 50 bookseller not b cty; Sarah 45 b ENG; Assumed children: James 20 clerk, Helen 15, George 15 clerk apprentice, Alexander 15 merchant's apprentice, all b MLN; KNOWLES, fem. serv (NB enumerators were instructed to round ages down to the nearest multiple of 5.)14
     The census of 1851 showed John with his wife Sarah, their sons James, George and Alexander 25 Warriston Cres, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, SCT, household enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: John 72 retired bookseller b Bowden, ROX; wife Sarah 60 b ENG; Children: James 34 banker cheque clerk,George Henry 28 accountant, Alexander 25 commission merchant All b Edin; Servants: POOLE *2.6

DNA Info

     John belongs to a tested line in the FAIRBAIRN Surname DNA Project. Follow this link for supplementary DNA information.

Family

Sarah Morris (circa 1790 - Aug 1853)
Children
  • William Fairbairn15 (circa Feb 1810 - )
  • Sarah Fairbairn16 (circa Jun 1813 - )
  • John Fairbairn3,17 (Mar 1815 - Nov 1894)
  • James Fairbairn18,19 (Mar 1817 - May 1891)
  • Margaret Fairbairn20 (circa Feb 1819 - )
  • Helen Fairbairn21 (Apr 1820 - aft. 1841)
  • George Henry Fairbairn22 (Feb 1823 - aft. 1871)
  • Alexander Fairbairn23 (Mar 1825 - aft. 1881)
ChartsLineage 2b1: John & Helen (ANDERSON) FAIRBAIRN
Last Edited16 Dec 2015

Citations

  1. [S2786] John BURLEIGH, "EM FAIRBAIRN/SCOTT ex John B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Marr. 20 Feb 1809 John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, ST CUTHBERT'S EDINBURGH 685/002 0180 0269, rcvd Nov 2008, cert extracted from gedcom, Jan 2009.
  2. [S1141] Cash book and Kirk Sessions Baptisms: Bowden, ROX, SCT, Birth 10 Apr, Bap. 13 May 1778 John s/o William FAIRBAIRN & Margaret SCOTT , Film 1067932.
  3. [S2786] John BURLEIGH, "EM FAIRBAIRN/SCOTT ex John B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, John FAIRBAIRN (1778 Selkirk -1809 ?Edinburgh) m. Sarah MORRIS, rcvd Nov 2008.
  4. [S820] Census image, SCT, 1871 Nth Berwick, ELN 713/00 002/00 028, hsehold of Janet ELLIOT, copy d/loaded Sep 2010.
  5. [S1] Lorna Henderson, "FAIRBAIRN Conclusions", Sep 2010.
  6. [S203] 1851 Census transcripts, Scotland, via Ancestry.com, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, Par. 685/2 ED 14A pg 12 hsehold 37 John & Sarah FAIRBAIRN, extracted Nov 2008.
  7. [S3256] Will/Inventory: Helen FAIRBAIRN d Edinburgh 1867 (Will (22 Sep 1865) Inventory (21 Aug 1867) Proved 21 Aug 1867) Edinburgh Sheriff Court SC70/4/111 and SC70/1/136: Will 22 Sep 1865 Helen FAIRBAIRN of 18 Buccleugh Place, Edin., SC70/4/111, copy d/loaded Apr 2013.
  8. [S56] Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Dth 13 Oct 1898 Jane FAIRBAIRN, wid/o George Henry FAIRBAIRN, d/o Hugh Aird SMTH & Helen FAIRBAIRN, reg. Dist of St Andrew, Edin., MLN, 685/02 #643, copy d/loaded May 2013.
  9. [S3254] Rosemary PHILIP, "EM FAIRBAIRN/ANDERSON ex Rosemary P," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Marr. 1860 George Henry (s/o John FAIRBAIRN & Eliza SMITH) FAIRBAIRN & Jane d/o Hugh Aird SMITH & Helen FAIRBAIRN, 2nd cousins, extract rcvd May 2013.
  10. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Dth 27 May 1854 John FAIRBAIRN, Esq, Warriston Cres., aged 77, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, copy d/loaded Oct 2011.
  11. [S2786] John BURLEIGH, "EM FAIRBAIRN/SCOTT ex John B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Marr. 20 Feb 1809 John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, St Cuthbert's Edinburgh, MLN, 685/002 0180 0269, rcvd Nov 2008, cert extracted from gedcom, Jan 2009.
  12. [S1596] Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Marr. 20 Feb 1809 John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, batch M119883, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, extracted Nov 2008.
  13. [S2786] John BURLEIGH, "EM FAIRBAIRN/SCOTT ex John B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Dth 26 May 1854 from will of John FAIRBAIRN, 25 Warreston Cres, Edin, rcvd Nov 2008, extracted from gedcom, Jan 2009.
  14. [S1610] FreeCensus, UK online at http://www.freecen.org.uk/, SCT1841/685 St Cuthberts, MLN ED 28 F 130 Pg 7, hsehold of John & Sarah FAIRBAIRN, extracted Nov 2008.
  15. [S1596] Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Bap. 8 Feb 1810 William s/o John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, batch C119875, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, extracted Nov 2008.
  16. [S1596] Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Bap. 1 Jun 1813 Sarah d/o John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, batch C119876, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, extracted Nov 2008.
  17. [S2786] John BURLEIGH, "EM FAIRBAIRN/SCOTT ex John B," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Marr. 23 Nov 1847 John FAIRBAIRN & Elizabeth STOTE, Jesus Chapel, Par. St Mary, Southampton, transcr in gedcom rcvd Nov 2008, extracted Jan 2009.
  18. [S1596] Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Birth 14 Mar 1817 James s/o John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, batch C119877, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, extracted Nov 2008.
  19. [S56] Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Dth 31 May 1891 James FAIRBAIRN, h/o Eliza SMITH, reg. Dist of St Andrew, Burgh of Edinburgh, MLN 685/02 Pg 138 #412, copy d/loaded May 2009.
  20. [S1596] Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Bap. 3 Feb 1819 Margaret d/o John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, batch C119877, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, extracted Nov 2008.
  21. [S1596] Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Birth 3 Apr 1820 Helen d/o John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, batch C119886, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, extracted Nov 2008.
  22. [S1596] Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Birth 5 Feb 1823 George Henry s/o John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, batch C119886, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, extracted Nov 2008.
  23. [S1596] Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Birth 19 Mar 1825 Alexander s/o John FAIRBAIRN & Sarah MORRIS, batch C119886, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, MLN, extracted Nov 2008.
 
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